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El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 697 Google reviews · Running trail in Redwood City, California · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- 34 mi
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Jumbo natural forest featuring hiking & horseback trails, unique plants & rare sandstone formations.
What runners say about El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve
“El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve is a beautiful place for a peaceful hike close to the city.”
“Also shady from the tall redwood trees, perfect for mid day hiking.”
“El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve is a beautiful place for a peaceful hike close to the city.”
What a gem of a park. Free, ample parking spots, long hiking trails and other than occasional bikers, the trail is mostly empty. Nice moderate trails from a few miles to 8-10 miles. Foggy and rainy even on a hot spring day. We literally had rain at the end of the hike when just outside the park it was sunny and clear.
Lovely park in the peninsula. I’ve driven by here a few time but never stopped. I finally decided to come here on a random Tuesday and got a small hike. It was lovely peaceful forest with plenty of trails. I was able to see the sandstone formation and vista point in my short time there. This area is wonderful.
One of the best shady trails. Initial decent and then climb makes it a bit harder towards the end. It's full natural trail wide enough to share with bikers. Some very large trees have roots exposed due to mudslides but that gives you a glimpse of floating trees from Avatar movie.
Finally, we picked a weekend without raining to check out the Redwood forest. The 2023 rain season has not been kind to the west coast with down trees and broken roads or trails. The main parking lot was half full compared to the usual car sharks in the typical weekend day.
Trail conditions & character
“The entrance sign announced in a parking Nobody was at the booth although there were signs up that say you have to pay.”
“You are hiking down deep in the woods so no amazing views but you amcan experience the serenity of monster forest as you climb down to the foothills.”
“El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve is a beautiful place for a peaceful hike close to the city.”
“But it does have a steep valley somewhere in the middle, which makes it prohibitive for somebody of my biking skill….”
“Some very large trees have roots exposed due to mudslides but that gives you a glimpse of floating trees from Avatar movie.”
“Also shady from the tall redwood trees, perfect for mid day hiking.”
“It’s too bad that in this area of Sebastopol the roads are either crowded with cars speeding along at 50 or 60 miles an hour… Or lumpy neglected side roads.”
“Parking can be a little challenging, and there’s only one restroom in the main parking area.”
Plan your run at El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Distance34 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Trail mapOfficial trail map
- Websiteopenspace.org
- Phone(650) 691-1200
- Social Instagram · Facebook
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